I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

From a psychological perspective, this is not just "self-protection" when facing excessive mental stress, but also a kind of cowardice that naturally exists deep in one's subconscious.

Before Amamiya came to Kivotos, he had read a famous quote in a well-known book: "There is only one true heroism in the world: to see the world as it is and still love it."

But first of all... seeing the truth of life is something that the vast majority of people cannot do.

Not to mention 'still loving life after seeing it for what it is'.

"Hina can stop thinking about anything right now..."

Stroking Hina's horn, Amamiya said softly and earnestly, "But I still hope that even when Hina is 'not thinking about anything,' she should still 'think more.'"

Even when you don't want to think about anything... you should still think more?

The girl blinked, not immediately understanding Amamiya's seemingly paradoxical words.

But then she realized Amamiya's intentions.

"—Under certain conditions, clearing one's mind is very necessary. However, while clearing one's mind, it's also important to find genuine, personal interests, hobbies, or sources of emotional support."

"The reason Hina feels mentally overwhelmed is because she devotes too much energy to matters related to the Disciplinary Committee."

"I don't even have a moment of private time to pursue my hobbies..."

“If this continues, collapse is inevitable.”

Amamiya's analysis, which was almost like stating a fact, silenced Hina briefly.

Honestly... with the Disciplinary Committee so lacking in capable successors, and its fighting power almost entirely concentrated on her... under such circumstances, Hina really couldn't imagine it.

I can't imagine what direction the disciplinary committee would take if I really "retired".

While the idea that 'the disciplinary committee can do almost nothing without me' might be a bit narcissistic...

But this is also the consensus among the vast majority of organizations in Gehenna who are familiar with the Disciplinary Committee—

"Without Hina's disciplinary committee, there's nothing to fear."

Hina cannot back down, nor can she 'collapse' due to the accumulation of pressure over time.

"Sensei..."

The girl in Yu Yugong's arms curled up in a ball, her voice filled with confusion: "...What should I do?"

"Temporarily escaping is also quite necessary."

Amamiya sighed deeply—at present, Hina's 'personal situation' could perhaps only be alleviated and expressed temporarily through Maruki Takuto's 'escapism'.

The transformation from Sumire Yoshizawa to Kasumi Yoshizawa, and then back to Sumire Yoshizawa... didn't happen overnight.

'Temporarily...escape...'

Hina softly repeated Amamiya's gentle, admonitory words, her brow furrowed in thought.

Although I feel that the disciplinary committee would definitely be in chaos without me... and when I return, there will indeed be a lot more things to deal with...

But I really want to escape for a while...

“Sensei, I think…”

"Temporarily 'escape' for a while."

Seemingly finding the request a little difficult, Hina paused for a few seconds, then sighed and added in a more weary tone.

Even just one day would be enough...

"Sensei, take me... 'escape'."

That's how it is. Sometimes you need to be bold and a little willful—even if you end up paying the price for your willfulness, a necessary amount of willfulness is perfectly justified.

I sensed Hina's emotions...

My bond with Hina has deepened...

【Hina Sorasaki (Judgment) ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆】

[★5 Bond Ability "The Judge's Sunday" is now unlocked!]

Meeting the girl's expectant gaze, Amamiya smiled and replied, "Okay."

Chapter Forty-Five: Night, with the Little Rabbits

On a night with a curtain of stars hanging low, the train begins to run.

The night outside the window gradually blurred, but Amamiya no longer had time to look at the night and feel melancholy.

Amamiya boarded the tram to a station near Shalai, her final destination. She casually placed her shoulder bag on an empty seat next to her and the first thing she did was take out her phone from the bag to deal with the backlog of MomoTalk messages from the day.

Even with Sophia and Alona, ​​two 'AI girls' helping to filter out unnecessary messages, meaningless spam messages, and other advertising messages, there are still hundreds of red chat bubbles in the momotalk chat window.

It wasn't because Alona and Sofia were 'ineffective'.

It's because there are just too many people trying to contact Amamiya's 'assistants' every day in various ways.

Mary: Have a safe and pleasant day.

[Mary: Sensei, Sister Sakurako of the Sisters' Guild wishes you to visit and become familiar with the Guild...]

Mary: Do you have some time lately?

'...I also received news that Jiu Lingliao had exposed other people's scars.'

[Miyako: About the Rabbit Squad...]

'...'

[Rion: Sensei, are you free lately?]

[Rion: Regarding the "Technology of the Nameless Gods"...]

'...'

[Himari: I heard about the game club from Kai... Sensei, regarding Kai's preparations for his new body... may I know the details?]

'...'

[Azuko: Sensei, are you free lately?]

[Azuko: Everyone in Arios wants to say something 'special' to Sensei.]

'...'

[Yuka: It concerns the Akawa Grand Festival...]

'...'

[Celery: The resort's revenue situation...]

'...'

[Izuna: My lord! Izuna has found a new companion...]

'...'

[Shigure: Sensei, how about a trip to Akatsuki?]

The sheer volume of news has reached a point that is somewhat suffocating.

The things to be dealt with are piling up like a mountain.

Amamiya certainly didn't feel despair at the hundreds of messages waiting to be processed—in fact, he was already used to this routine of being bombarded with messages every day.

Carrying a shoulder bag, I wander through the dazzling night lights, negotiating with each of my "helpers" and deepening our bonds...

For Amamiya, this is the norm.

On the contrary, those periods when there was no contact at night actually made Amamiya feel a little lonely.

After efficiently processing and replying to the messages from the other assistants, Amamiya finally opened the message from Miyako.

After confirming that the message had been read, Gongzi sent several more messages intermittently.

[Miyako: We've taken stock of the remaining supplies and concluded that the Rabbit Squad urgently needs supplies and other equipment support.]

[Miyako: Sensei... If you have time, why not come and look after the current Rabbit Squad?]

[Miyako: Rabbits need to be bonded with...]

Amamiya was acutely aware of the current state of the Rabbit Squad.

Not long ago, after they were 'captured' by Arius's squad summoned by Amamiya, all the SRT-related equipment they brought from SRT was confiscated by Valkyrie as 'illegal gains'.

Currently, the Rabbit Squad is in dire straits, lacking everything from food and clothing to shelter and transportation.

After thinking it over, Amamiya typed a reply: "If the Rabbit Squad doesn't have a place to stay for the time being, they can actually stay temporarily in Xia Lai—if it's only for a day or two, it won't be a problem, just like Miyu."

Gongzi replied with a string of ellipses, and then there was no further news for the time being.

Amamiya was not in a hurry and waited quietly for new information to arrive.

'Hunting a wary "little rabbit" requires the same level of patience as a hunter.'

While Amamiya was waiting for news on the train, at that very moment, in Usagi Park, a white-haired girl, half of her body illuminated by the flickering firelight, hesitated and temporarily pressed the screen-off button on her phone.

The sky was filled with stars, and the moonlit night was cloudless—it was exceptionally good weather for the Rabbit Squad's living conditions...

But Miyako, like Amamiya... she also lacked the leisure and elegance to indulge in 'lamenting the passing of spring and the coming of autumn'.

The sticky, uncomfortable feeling on my body, the smell of dirt mixed with earth and sweat from my clothes, and the protesting sounds coming from my lower abdomen...

The campfire was very warm.

But the warmth of the campfire was not enough to dispel the chill in the girls' hearts.

"Hey……"

Lying on the airy recliner, Moe spoke weakly: "Any news from Sensei...?"

After asking her question in a slurred and weak voice, Meng Hui 'popped' the last lollipop, still attached to its glistening thread, out of her mouth.

Miyako remained silent and did not answer Moe's question.

Seeing that Miyako was silent, Moe lazily squinted her eyes, held the plastic stick of the lollipop between her index and middle fingers as if she were holding a cigarette, and sighed in a low voice.

"Actually, I think joining Xia Lai's side isn't so bad after all..."

"Although……"

Before Moe could finish her second sentence, Saki interrupted her with a slightly bitter tone.

After using a branch to ignite the campfire and make it burn brighter, Saki put the blackened branch back at her feet.

“But that would…” Saki gritted her teeth, “and violate SRT’s training rules…”

"Rules can't put food on the table..."

Moe looked up at the sky: "Now that our supplies have been almost completely confiscated, we can't even fully guarantee food, the most important element of our survival..."

Saki remained silent.

Given that SRT has already been shut down... is it really a good thing to stick to the "rules for SRT students"?

'Think about it carefully...'

As Saki was troubled, she vaguely heard the words of instruction from the adult as he left the interrogation room.

'If necessary, you can try to trust in the power of adults...'

Amamiya's words still echoed in her ears. After a long silence, Saki glanced out of the corner of her eye at Miyu, who was wearing a 'shameless and bizarre outfit' and had been following them all day, yet miraculously hadn't gotten a single speck of dirt on her.

Like a veil woven by moonlight, shrouded in a hazy mist, even with only a campfire separating them, Saki felt a sense of unreality, as if she couldn't see clearly.

Just as people don't consciously pay attention to the sun or moon during their daily activities outside of 'expressing emotions', when Saki saw Miyu in 'strange attire', she subconsciously wanted to ignore her as if she were the moon hanging high above her head.

—Although it is 'bright', it really carries a sense of remoteness that goes unnoticed.

Seeing that someone had noticed her, Miyu, dressed in a pure white wedding gown, had to speak up: "Um, everyone... I think Sensei genuinely wants to host us..."

"We shouldn't be too wary of Sensei's good intentions..."

Moe's eyes lit up, her tone meaningful: "Sensei's specially tailor-made 'Otherworld Armament,' and it's already..."

"It won't get dirty, it's not restricted by the laws of physics, and no matter how exaggerated it looks, it won't hinder your movements in the slightest... Such convenient clothing..."

Of course, it's not just Moe who's envious.

As students from SRT, Miyako and Saki both understand... just how much convenience clothing with so many amazing properties can bring to daily life.